"And its all funded by (Pay Attention, this is important:) you and me, and every little subscriber from Bug Tussle Mississippi to Leningrad. We bought it, we built it, we pay for it out of our own pocket."
I am not sure but I think that is generally what most of the posters mean.. even if they are not aware of it.
I don't think so, an awefully lot of posters seem to think the net is directly funded by tax dollars.